Radiator cap remover



May 22, 1962 L. BAKER, JR

.RADIATOR CAP REMOVER Filed April 2, 1959 Albert Boker,Jr.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY 3,035,466 RADIATOR CAP REMOVER Albert L. Baker, Jr., Dallas, Tex. Chancellor Management Corp. of America, P.0. Box 527, Waco, Tex.) Filed Apr. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 803,608 2 Claims. (Cl. 813.1)

This invention rel-ates to a radiator cap remover, and it concerns more particularly a hand .tood for use in removing the caps of automobile radiators.

Automobile radiators often become overheated, and upon removing the cap from such an overheated radiator, the hot cap itself, as well as the steam which is released from the radiator, present hazards to the safety of the person removing the cap.

An object of this invention is to provide a hand tool for removing automobile radiator caps whereby a hot radiator cap may be safely removed from a radiator without touching it.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand tool for the purpose described having an elongated handle, a cap engaging member rotatably connected to one end of the handle and providing a socket for rotative and lifting engagement with a cap, and means for rotating the cap engaging member, operable from the opposite end of the handle, whereby the tool is adapted to be manipulated, to remove a cap from an overheated radiator, by a person standing at a safe distance from the radiator.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a tool which is of simple, rugged construction, is adapted to be manufactured inexpensively, and is efficient in operation and durable in use.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a radiator cap remover embodying the invention, showing the tool in one of its operating positions;

FIGURE 2 is a View similar to FIGURE 1, showing the tool in another of its operating positions;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary part sectional view, on an enlarged scale, at right angles to the view shown in FIGURE 2, partly in section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan View, on an enlarged scale, showing the side of the tool opposite the side shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing, theradiator cap remover of the invention includes an elongated handle 1 having a hand grip 2 adjacent one of its ends. The end of the handle 1 opposite the hand grip 2 is flattened, as at 3, and the flattened end portion 3 is inclined slightly relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle 1. A planar cap engaging member 4 is arranged parallel to the flattened end portion 3 of the handle 1, and is rotatably connected thereto as hereinafter described.

A tubular rivet 5 is passed through aligned openings provided thereof in the cap engaging member 4, centrally thereof, and in the flattened end portion 3 of the handle 1, whereby the cap engaging member 4 is rotatably connected to the flattened end portion 3. A pair of washers 6 and 7, which surround the rivet 5, are disposed between the flattened end portion 3 and the cap engaging member 4, and on the side of the flattened end portion 3 opposite the cap engaging member 4, respectively.

The cap engaging member 4 is generally square, and the width thereof corresponds substantially to the diameter of a radiator cap 8, shown in dotted lines in FIG- URE 4. Two pairs of ears 9, which are positioned adjacent the corners of the cap engaging member 4 and extend diagonally outwardly therefrom, are provided for selective engagement with a pair of diametrically opposed nited States Patent Patented May 2 2, 1962 lugs 10 which extend radially outwardly from the cap 8.

In use, the cap engaging member 4 is applied to the cap 8 in opposed relation to the upper surface thereof, with the ears 9 of one pair overlying the lugs 10. The ears 9 have angularly bent, depending integral hook por-' tions 11 for abutting engagement with the trailing edges of the lugs 10, and for lifting engagement with the under sides thereof, whereby the cap 8 may be unscrewed and lifted from a radiator.

A lever 12, which comprises a substantially U shaped piece of bent wire having inwardly turned ends 13, has its ends 13 received in openings provided therefor in opposite sides of the handle 1, near the hand grip 2, whereby the lever 12 is pivotally connected to the handle 1.

The end portions of the wire comprising the lever 12, which are arranged in parallel, spaced apart relation to each other, and are connected by a cross wire 14, which is spaced apart from the pivotally connected ends 13 a distance corresponding to the distance from the center of the cap engaging member 4 to one of the corners thereof, are bent at an obtuse angle adjacent the cross wire 14 whereby the free end of the lever 12 is adapted to extend substantially parallel to the handle 1 in one position thereof, as shown in FIGURE 2.

A link 15, which comprises a piece of wire, has one of its ends looped about the cross wire 14, whereby it is pivotally connected to the lever 12 intermediate its ends. The end of the wire comprising the link 15 opposite the lever 12 is bent angularly, and is passed through an opening provided therefor in one corner of the cap engaging member 4, whereby the link 15 is pivotally connected to the cap engaging member 4, eccentn'cally thereof.

The arrangement is such that the cap engaging member 4 may be rotated, to thereby unscrew a radiator cap to which it is applied, by manipulating the lever 12.

A fiat wire spring 16, which is bent angularly intermediate its ends, has one of its ends anchored to the handle 1 adjacent its flattened end portion 3. The free end of the spring 16 is passed through the tubular rivet 5, and is adapted to yieldably and frictionally engage the upper surface of the cap 8, whereby the cap 8 is secured against displacement relative to the cap engaging member 4 upon disengaging the cap 8 from a radiator.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A hand tool for use in removing the caps of automobile radiators, said tool comprising an elongated handle having a hand grip, a planar cap engaging member arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle and rotatably connected to the handle adjacent one of its ends, the cap engaging member having at least one pair of ears extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof for engagement with a pair of diametrically opposed lugs extending radially outwardly from a cap, the cap engaging member being adapted to be applied to a cap in opposed relation to the upper surface thereof, with the ears overlying the lugs, the ears having angularly bent, depending integral hook portions for abutting engagement with the trailing edges of the lugs, and for lifting engagement with the under sides thereof, whereby the cap may be detached and lifted from a radiator, and means comprising a linkage pivotally connected at one end to said cap engaging member and at its opposite end to said handle near said hand grip for rotating the cap engaging member, to remove a cap from an overheated radiator, by a person standing at a safe distance from the radiator.

2. The structure of claim 1, the means for rotating the cap engaging member comprising a lever having one of its ends pivotally connected to the handle near the end thereof opposite the cap engaging member, and a link having one of its ends pivotally connected to the lever intermediate its ends and having its opposite end pivotally connected to the cap engaging member eccentrically thereof, the arrangement being such that the cap engaging member is adapted to be rotated by manipulating the lever.

1,267,009 Steam May 21, 1918 4 Grein May 9, 1922 Bartenstein May 30, 1922 Horeth June 2, 1931 Taylor June 10, 1952 Ziese Nov. 10, 1953 Schwaiger July 26, 1955 Kniser Dec. 24, 1957 Cox July 21, 1959 

